Frequently
Asked Questions

Call or email us! Whether you already know what kind of help you’re looking for, or just want to ask a few questions, we are here for you. Our intake coordinator can provide you with all of the necessary information, and book you in for your first appointment with one of our associates.  During your first appointment you will have a chance to discuss your needs, get an idea of how therapy can help you, and see if your therapist is a match for you. No therapy approach can be successful without a strong and trusting alliance between the client and the therapist.

Seeking help is a very personal matter and we take your privacy very seriously. The effectiveness of therapy relies on people feeling safe when speaking with their therapist. Psychologists and anyone whom they are supervising have an ethical and legal obligation to maintain confidentiality of their clients by not disclosing any information about the therapy session to third parties without the client’s permission. We do however have a legal responsibility to disclose certain information if it comes up during our work with a client in order to protect the client and the public. Our confidentiality policies are reviewed with you prior to your beginning treatment at the clinic.

Psychologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists all provide psychotherapy. Their training and licensing requirements are different. Of all three designations, psychologists have the most extensive training in psychotherapy and mental health diagnosis, and the majority of research and development of effective psychotherapy approaches are conducted by psychologists.  

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. They complete 4 years of medical school just like any other medical doctor. They then complete a residency in psychiatry where they receive training in medication management, diagnosis and psychotherapy for a range of mental health disorders. A psychologist completes their Masters and, in most North American states and provinces, must have a PhD in Psychology and have completed several supervised years of psychotherapy that include placements in hospitals and other mental health facilities. After the PhD, they complete a minimum of one year of practice under the supervision of a psychologist before being licensed as an autonomously practicing psychologist.

Physicians and psychologists are legally allowed to provide a mental health diagnosis. Making a diagnosis is a legally regulated act. Making the right diagnosis is important as the wrong diagnosis can have a harmful impact on a person.

A psychotherapist is a relatively new designation that was created after Ontario passed a law to regulate the service of psychotherapy. For anyone not trained as a physician or psychologist, but have training in other schools for psychotherapy, assuming they meet certain minimum requirements, they can register as a psychotherapist. A psychotherapist cannot provide a mental health diagnosis. 

For more information on what is a psychologist, visit the following link http://www.cpa.ca/public/whatisapsychologist/

Psychotherapy sessions are booked for 50 minutes and we usually recommend weekly sessions although this depends on the presenting issue, as a client’s goals may require more or less time.  Many people like to know in advance how many sessions will be required given the time and cost involved in attending therapy. This is difficult to anticipate as it is different for each client, and requires an initial consult to be able to advise you on this. As registered health professionals, we are obliged to provide treatment only if we believe it will be effective and to provide no more or less than what is necessary. 

Treatment is voluntary to you and you can terminate treatment at any time with no consequences to you financially or otherwise. We always encourage clients to discuss if they feel treatment is not working so that we can either address the issue by changing the therapy approach or perhaps recommend you to another clinic or resource. 

Psychologists are not trained or licensed to prescribed medications. However, we are not against taking psychiatric medications, and work in consultation with other healthcare providers such as your family physician or psychiatrist who are prescribing and managing your medications. Some people’s mental health issues may be at the point where they need medications and cannot benefit from psychotherapy alone. Many mental health professionals who prescribe medications do not have the time or extensive training to provide effective psychotherapy. Seeking psychotherapy with a psychologist in conjunction with taking medications can substantially improve your prognosis.  

Our fees are in line with what has been recommended by the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA). Fees for each associate varies depending on level of training and years of experience.

​In Ontario, psychologist and most other health professional services contribute towards medical tax credit. You can check with your accountant. Services provided by psychologists are not covered by OHIP. Many extended health care plans and employment health insurance plans cover the cost of services with a registered psychologist. We bill clients directly and they receive a receipt with the information required to submit their claims to their insurance company for reimbursement. We accept credit card  (Visa, Mastercard), etransfer, and cheques (during COVID we are only accepting credit card an etransfer)

Please note we are available by appointment only and do not accept drop-ins.

We also provide online therapy using secure, encrypted online video software that you can use on your computer, tablet or phone. We also provide services by phone. Due to COVID our clinic has expanded capacity to provide virtual psychotherapy. In addition to avoiding COVID transmission,  some may choose this option because coming to the office is a major barrier such as the commute.

Yes, both our offices are wheelchair accessible. Our clinic has a specialty in providing services for people with disabilities. One of our associates, Dr. Kaley Roosen, is a person with a disability and uses an electric wheel chair. She has been instrumental in advising the clinic on how to ensure the space is accessible. We are also happy to provide other accommodations as appropriate. Please let us know your accommodation needs when booking.

We do not provide specialty services associated with assessments required for court proceedings in cases such as: child custody and access; parental competence; child abuse; pre-trial disposition reports; probation assessments, etc.